Aircraft collecting device



Aug.lv ,30,- 1927.

' 1,640,667 F. M. OSBORN AIRCRAFT COLLECTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 9, 1925 lsheeshet 1 b l N Inventor ByMw/m Aug. 3o, 1927.

1,640,667 F. M. OSBORN AIRCRAFT COLLECTING DEVICE Filed Nov` 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

FRED M. OSBORN, 0F LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA.

! AIRCRAFT COLLECTING DEVICE.

AppIicaton filed November 9, 1926. Serial No. 147,369.

The present invention relates to an appa ratus whereby an aircraft may pick up mail, packages, and the like from the ground withoutthe necessity of landing. An apparatus of this nature is particularly useful in the air mail as mail may be picked up en route at different places.

An important object of the invention lies in the provision of a device of this nature with a structure that is simple yet thoroughly reliable and efficient when in use.

A still further very important object of the invention lies in the provision of a structure which will enable an aviator to guide the aircraft for picking up mail, packages, or the like without utilizing any great amount of skill. n y

With the above and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of part-s as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus embodying the features of my invention Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail top plan view of one end thereof, Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary side elevation of a portion of the device,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the arm and slide hanger.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numerals 5 denote two elongated bars which are angularly disposed in relation to each other in spaced relation and are co-extensive being supported horizontally above the ground at their forward ends by legs 6 and intermediate their ends by legs 7. The bars 5 converge from their forward ends towards their rear ends and are spaced at their rear ends. Strong spring clips 8 are fixed to the bars 5 as at 9 and incline upwardly and rearwardly and terminate in horizontal ends 10 having depending projections 11. An engaging member inchicles an arcuate bight port-ion 12 having diverging arms 14 which are adapted to rest on the rear ends of the bars 5 and theportions 1() of the spring clips 9 are adapted to engage the ends of these arms 14 with the projections 11 seated in suitable recesses in the upper surfaces thereof. Bars 15 are 5 hinged to the arms 14 adjacent their extremities as is indicated at 16 and extend rearwardly terminating in ends 17 which are normally engaged with each other by means of springs 18 which lare iixed to the arms 14 60 and are bent over upon themselves and exert pressure upon the bars 15. An arm 19 projects at an acute angle from the rear end of one of the bars 5. A slide member 20 is mounted thereon and is adapted to have engaged therewith a mail bag 21 or any other package, device, or the like. A chain 22 is engaged with the slide hanger 2O andl is engaged about one of the arms 14 being held in place by a plate 23 which holds one 7 end link of the chain `in recesses 24.

The numeral 25' denotes a cable which is adapted to be suspended from an airplane when in flight and at its lower end has fixed thereto a ball 26 the radius of which is 75 greater than the radius of the curvature of the arcuate bight 12. Considering Figs. 1 and 2 the airplane will be flying from left to right and the cable will enter between the guide bars 5, pass between the ends 17 of the 80 bars 15 so that the ball will be caught between the arcuate bight 12 andthe arms 14 will be snatched from the bars 5 and the slide hanger 20 will be snatched from the arm 19 because of the chain 22. Thus the 85 device or the like attached to the hanger 20 may be hoisted up into the airplane.

It is thought that the construction, utility, and advantages of this invention will be readily understoodby those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.V The present embodiment ofthe invention has been disclosed in detail merely by way .of example since in actual practice it vattains the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the in# vention and the above description. It is apparent that changes in the details of construction, in the sizes, in the proportions of. the parts, and in the combination and arn rangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or sacriicing any of'its advantages.

Having thus described my invention what said pair of hinged bars to hold the eXtremi- 10 I claim as new is: ties in abutment, and spring clips on the sup- An apparatus of the class described inporting structure projecting upwardly thereoluding a supporting 'structure comprising from and having depending projections en-V a pair of horizontal co-extensive plates and gaging in depressions formed in the engagvangnlarly disposed bars; an engaging me`ming member. v A 16 ber resting on the bars and including a pair f In testimony whereof I aix mysignature. of hinged bars projecting inwardly of the y member, and spring means associated withy Y Y I FRED M. OSBORN. 

